GEAR UP Day at the Legislature, January 13

What obstacles do teens face when preparing for college? What are schools doing to increase the number of students moving on to a post secondary education? And just how many students actually attend college after high school? Over 70 students and counselors from 18 public high schools statewide will answer these questions and voice their concerns about college readiness and access issues during GEAR UP Day at the Legislature on January 13.

Participating students are leaders of college prep clubs sponsored by GEAR UP Hawaiʻi, a federal grant charged with the task of increasing the number of low-income students who are prepared for college. GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is the single largest college prep program in Hawaiʻi, serving over 5,600 high school students statewide.

Governor Linda Lingle will welcome the students at 9:30 a.m. in the Capitol auditorium. The day will continue with a capitol tour, legislative appointments and end with an informational briefing, from 1 to 2 p.m. The briefing is sponsored by Senator Norman Sakamoto, Education and Military Affairs Chair and Representative Roy Takumi, Education Chair.

For more information about GEAR UP Hawaiʻi, visit http://gearup.hawaii.edu or call 956-3879 or toll free at 866-808-GEAR (4327).